NFL's top 25 games of 2024

Wed May 15 2:01pm ET
Field Level Media

Christmas Day for NFL marketing and ticket sales departments finally arrived Wednesday with the release of the 2024 season schedule.

With subplots and peripheral angles multiplying before our eyes - hello, Netflix, welcome to NFL holiday football broadcasts - Field Level Media's football-minded contributors assembled the top 25 games of 2024.

24. Cardinals at Jets, TBD: We're grabbing our popcorn for one matchup, and one matchup alone: Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner. Top five draft picks likely to be near the top of the pecking order at their position for a decade.

23. Colts at Patriots, TBD: Drake Maye, the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft, meet Anthony Richardson, drafted fourth overall in 2023. Indianapolis appeared to have a hit on its hands before Richardson was shut down to undergo shoulder surgery. If he can stay healthy and Maye isn't relegated to clipboard duty behind former Colts starter Jacoby Brissett, we're eager to make early evaluations of purported franchise QBs.

22. Jaguars at Eagles, TBD: Young QBs and strong pass rush are common bonds, sure, but the plotline we're looking at is the reception for Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson. He played for the Eagles (1999) but was essentially a coach-in-training for Donovan McNabb, then served as an assistant for Andy Reid and came back from a stint in KC for a five-year run that included a Super Bowl.

21. Bears at Texans, TBD: The Bears also get a meeting with the Carolina Panthers for the second consecutive season. With all due respect to Panthers 2023 No. 1 pick Bryce Young, the top rookie quarterback last season was Houston's C.J. Stroud. His numbers would have been the best ever single-season passing total for a Bears QB (4,108 to Erik Kramer's team record of 3,803). Stroud had 26 TD passes including the playoffs despite missing time with a concussion). The Bears hitched their wagon to No. 1 pick Caleb Williams with the rookie carrying massive talent - and expectations - in Year 1.

20. Vikings at Giants, TBD: All of the QB uncertainty one can handle on the undercard, LSU products Justin Jefferson (Vikings) and Malik Nabers (Giants) in the main event.

19. 49ers at Seahawks, TBD: Maybe you overlooked it. There's not a chance Brock Purdy did. He knows new Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald's defense - that of the Ravens - had him seeing ghosts in a five-interception laugher on Christmas Night last season. Macdonald's new club has a bunch of cross-training chess pieces determined to unseat the 49ers from the NFC West perch.

18. Jets at 49ers, Sept. 9: Week 1 on "Monday Night Football" is a familiar refrain for the Jets, who are hoping Aaron Rodgers has some magic left following a season-ending injury four snaps into his first start with the team in 2023. Rodgers is local - Chico, Calif., Butte JC and Cal - and went 6-3 against the 49ers with the Packers. Now 40 years old, he'll try to tip the scales toward the Jets, who are 3-11 all-time in the series with San Francisco. Jets head coach Robert Saleh has known 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan since breaking into the NFL as a low-level assistant with the Texans 15 years ago and was defensive coordinator on his staff before taking over with the Jets.

17. Cowboys at Commanders, TBD: Dan Quinn gets his second chance as a head coach in Washington and to be the champ in the NFC East, he'll have to take down his previous employer and boss, the Cowboys and Mike McCarthy. Given the amount of time Quinn spent with McCarthy and Dak Prescott, don't discount the level of concern the Cowboys have entering two games with Washington.

16. Eagles vs. Packers (Brazil), Sept. 6: The youngest roster in the NFL last season belonged to the Packers, and nobody can fault what Green Bay did in the offseason. Head coach Matt LaFleur debuts his offense with Josh Jacobs at running back and a new-look defense. It'll also be a big reveal game for the Eagles, unleashing their own big-ticket offseason item, Saquon Barkley, and a number of new faces on defense.

15. Falcons at Vikings, TBD: Welcome back, Kirk Cousins, congratulations on finding a team that didn't want to invest in a young quarterback to insure its $100M guarantee to a 35-year-old starter coming off an Achilles injury. Oops. Cousins could be hailed or hated for bailing on the Vikings in free agency following 50 regular-season wins in six seasons of Skol-ing.

14. Ravens at Chargers, TBD: Los Angeles and new hire Jim Harbaugh welcome John Harbaugh and the Ravens with entertainment expected to be rich before, during and after a matchup of AFC heavyweights. John Harbaugh won the last meeting and survived a brief power outage at the Super Bowl in New Orleans to take home the Lombardi and deal Jim's 49ers a painful defeat.

13. Steelers at Broncos, Week 2: Revenge games bring out the spirit and emotion you might not otherwise find in games that don't include Mike Tomlin. Pittsburgh picked up Russell Wilson after he was scrapped at a cost north of $80 million to Denver by second-year head coach Sean Payton. Payton, of course, is still in town and brought in a rookie, Oregon's Bo Nix, to train in the system that helped make Drew Brees a legend. Don't look now, but Pittsburgh had a sneaky excellent offseason while the Broncos shed leaders and linchpins on both sides of the ball (Wilson, Justin Simmons, Jerry Jeudy). If reunions are your thing, Payton also heads back to New Orleans this season.

12. Jets at Bills, Week 17: We know they'll get an earlier go at each other on "Monday Night Football" In October, but let's give the season time to breath and Aaron Rodgers time to round back into form. He'll be recently removed from his 41st birthday but should know the names of all of his wide receivers, a task Josh Allen might need more time to complete.

11. Ravens at Cowboys, TBD: Dak Prescott was great at home last season and Dallas fortified the offensive line through the draft. Whether new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has an answer for mobile quarterbacks - namely Lamar Jackson - might be the hot-button issue for the Cowboys. Baltimore's No. 1-ranked defense in 2023 also traveled well last season, battering Brock Purdy, Trevor Lawrence and Justin Herbert and limiting those three teams to a combined 36 points in Ravens' road wins.

10. 49ers at Packers, Nov. 24: Week 12 and the start of a pivotal, NFC-dominated, primetime featured stretch for Green Bay with nighttime marquee matchups at Detroit (Week 14) and Seattle (Week 15) ahead. Jordan Love's two interceptions stopped the Packers short of an upset at San Francisco in the divisional playoffs in January.

9. Texans at Cowboys, TBD: C.J. Stroud appears to be special and the Texans made sure his supporting cast wouldn't be a reason for a sophomore slump. But one warning: only the Bills and Patriots have a more difficult schedule based on 2023 results and offseason moves. Among the appealing underlying matchups: Houston wide receiver Stefon Diggs vs. Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs.

8. Bears at Packers, Jan. 5: The Week 18 finale was meaningful for Green Bay last season, and Jordan Love guided the Packers into the postseason to sweep the Bears and continue the trend Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers started. No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams makes his first foray into the likely frozen tundra. Will the Bears be playing for more than a spoiler token?

7. Dolphins at 49ers, TBD: It was Dec. 4, 2022, and far more meaningful than we knew at the time when a seventh-round rookie - 49ers QB Brock Purdy - made his first career start with two TD passes in a 33-17 home win over the Miami Dolphins. Back to the scene come the Dolphins with former 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel a solid bet to share some unknown intel about old boss Kyle Shanahan in the game week buildup.

6. Ravens at Chiefs, Sept. 5: Had this one been bumped back a couple months to multiply the meaningfulness in the standings and AFC playoff picture, it had an angle on a top three game of the 2024 regular season. Lamar Jackson vs. Patrick Mahomes remains must-see for all the right reasons.

5. 49ers at Bills, Dec. 4: The week-after-Thanksgiving primetime game on Sunday of Week 13 should be meaningful for teams with Super Bowl aspirations.

4. Rams at Lions, TBD: Two franchises on schedule to combine for more than $350 million in deposits into Jared Goff's bank account are back at it with Detroit out to duplicate their playoff win in January over one-time Lions QB Matthew Stafford.

3. Ravens at Eagles, TBD: Star power on display? Check-check. Potential Super Bowl preview? Sure thing. Saquon Barkley (Eagles) and Derrick Henry (Ravens) add firepower to a pair of offenses with explosive potential.

2. Lions at 49ers, TBD: Other than tackle eligible, think of another phrase that could spike Dan Campbell's temperature more than "at San Francisco." Didn't think so. The Lions were halfway to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl leading the 49ers handily in the NFC Championship but coughed up a 17-point lead and bowed out of the playoffs in a 34-31 defeat instead. If Campbell circled this game on the schedule in ink, we're guessing you can't read it.

1. (tie) Chiefs at 49ers, TBD: Familiar enough to be rivals, the Chiefs left with the jewels in recent games that really mattered between teams with a combined 50-18 record the past two regular seasons. San Francisco took a lashing from the Chiefs, 44-23, at home in Oct. 23 before the dawning of the Brock Purdy era.

1. (tie) Bengals at Chiefs, TBD: Don't forget Joe Burrow, he's more than the highest-paid player in 2024. The Bengals quarterback is 3-1 against the Chiefs but was sidelined with a broken wrist when the teams played in 2023. Don't look for a warm reception in Kansas City, where fans aren't soon to forget Burrow's boys calling the Chiefs' stadium "Burrow-head" based on his success at the home of Patrick Mahomes.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Starts, Sits, Sleepers: Week 7

Player Notes
Carson Wentz Oct 19 7:30am CT
Carson Wentz

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz has been named the starter for the Week 7 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. This marks the fourth straight start for Wentz while J.J. McCarthy (ankle) recovers. According to Ian Rapoport, Wentz could be under center for Week 8 as well. It doesn't sound like the Vikings are fully committed to McCarthy once he's healthy. Wentz has been a viable option with 759 passing yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions in place of McCarthy. It'll be interesting to see how he does in a revenge game against the Eagles in Week 7. He should be able to offer streaming appeal against the Eagles shaky secondary.

From RotoBaller

Jeffery Simmons Oct 19 7:10am CT
Jeffery Simmons

Despite trade conjecture surrounding their best player, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport is reporting that the Tennessee Titans will not trade defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. One of the league's best defensive players at any position, Simmons is the most sought-after player on a team that is 1-5 and fired its coach this week. The Titans are a long way from contending and figure to move some players before the trade deadline, though it appears that their All-Pro defensive tackle won't be one of them. Headed for another teardown, it looks as if Simmons, 28, is still in the Titans' plans for a rebuild.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Carter Oct 19 7:00am CT
Jalen Carter

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (heel) is likely to be ready when his team plays the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium, according to a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The star defensive lineman missed Week 6 with the injury, but should be back for a Philly defense in search of a rebound following an ugly loss to the New York Giants. Minnesota will be without its starting center, Ryan Kelly (concussion), and possibly right tackle Brian O'Neill (knee), giving the Eagles a decent chance to disrupt an offense led by backup quarterback Carson Wentz.

From RotoBaller

Abdul Carter Oct 19 7:00am CT
Abdul Carter

New York Giants edge rusher Abdul Carter (hamstring) will be a game-time decision to take on the Denver Broncos in Week 7, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The rookie from Penn State has made the trip to Denver, per Rapoport, but will use pre-game workouts to determine whether he can play through the hamstring ailment. If he responds well, it's possible he could play against a Broncos offense that struggled last week, but managers in IDP should make other plans nonetheless. With a 4:05 p.m. EST kickoff, waiting for Carter's official status is too risky to start him this week.

From RotoBaller

Jakobi Meyers Oct 19 6:50am CT
Jakobi Meyers

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (knee, toe) will use Sunday's pre-game workout to determine whether he can play through the injuries, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Raiders are once again set to be without tight end Brock Bowers (knee), and could also be without another pass catcher if the veteran receiver is not able to play. Meyers hasn't been a great fantasy option since a productive Week 1, as he's ranked 40th or lower among PPR receivers four weeks in a row. Now facing multiple injuries and a matchup against a strong Kansas City defense, managers should look for other options this week.

From RotoBaller

Stefon Diggs Oct 19 6:40am CT
Stefon Diggs

New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (chest) is expected to play when the Pats take on the Tennessee Titans in Week 7, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The veteran wide receiver has two top-20 finishes in the past three weeks and has started to look like his old self now that he is one year removed from a major knee injury as a member of the Houston Texans. Diggs has 22 targets, 19 catches, and 275 yards in New England's past three games, and now takes on a Titans team ranked 18th against fantasy wide receivers. He's a solid WR2/high-end Flex in Week 7 who can be started in pretty much all formats.

From RotoBaller

Cam Ward Oct 19 6:30am CT
Cam Ward

During their first game with an interim coaching staff, the Tennessee Titans plan to "simplify" their offense in an attempt to aid rookie quarterback Cameron Ward, according to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 2025 No. 1 overall pick is completing just under 55% of his passes for 1,101 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions through six games, but the Titans are 1-5 and fired head coach Brian Callahan this week. Tennessee is set to take on resurgent New England in Week 7, which should keep Ward, ranked as the No. 33 fantasy quarterback, out of fantasy lineups. At this point, Ward should only be rostered in dynasty formats on a Titans team that is making another strong case to draft first overall.

From RotoBaller

Zach Ertz Oct 19 6:20am CT
Zach Ertz

According to a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, tight end Zach Ertz (shoulder/calf) of the Washington Commanders should be available to play against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. The veteran tight end is coming off one of his more productive days of the season last week, catching all six of his targets for 43 yards and a touchdown. Ertz's availability is welcome news for Washington, which is ravaged by wide receiver injuries. With Deebo Samuel (heel) and Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) already ruled out and Noah Brown (groin) still on injured reserve, Ertz should have increased volume, making him a great option for leagues that start more than one tight end.

From RotoBaller

Darnell Mooney Oct 19 12:20am CT
Darnell Mooney

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (hamstring) is expected to suit up for Sunday night's matchup with the 49ers despite not practicing on Friday and only gettingin two limited sessions earlier in the week. The 27-year-old suffered a hamstring injury in Week 4 and missed Week 6 despite having a bye to get healthy in Week 5, so even though coach Raheem Morris has stated that he believes Mooney will play, it will be hard to trust thesixth-year wideout for fantasy. If he ultimately plays, the Tulane product will take on a San Francisco defense that has been very susceptible to the pass as of late, allowing the fourth-most passing yards per game over the last three weeks without pass rusher Nick Bosa (knee) and linebacker Fred Warner (ankle), who are both out for the season. Mooney has plenty of competition for targets in this offense, with Drake London, Kyle Pitts Sr., and Bijan Robinson accounting for nearly 70 percent of the target share in 2025, leaving the veteran receiver as a risky WR5 this week. With it being the Sunday night game as well, fantasy managers may want to consider other options in the event he's ruled out prior to game time.

From RotoBaller

Stefon Diggs Oct 18 10:33pm CT
Stefon Diggs

New England Patriots WR Stefon Diggs (chest), who is listed as questionable, is expected to play against the Tennessee Titans in Week 7, according to a source.

Fantasy Spin: Drake Maye has been coming into his own in recent weeks, and Diggs has topped 100 yards in two of the last three games. With Diggs on track to play, he can be deployed as a WR3 or flex option.

From TheHuddle

Kalif Raymond Oct 18 10:30pm CT
Kalif Raymond

Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (personal) missed his team's Saturday practice for personal reasons, but he will not carry any designation into Detroit's Week 7 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night. Raymond has seen his role in the team's offense shrink over the past two weeks. He suffered a neck injury that forced him to exit Detroit's Week 5 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals early. However, he was able to suit up in Week 6 against the Kansas City Chiefs and played just two offensive snaps. Even in what profiles as a high-scoring matchup against the Buccaneers, Raymond appears unlikely to see many opportunities in the passing game. He should remain off the radar of fantasy managers in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Isaac TeSlaa Oct 18 10:20pm CT
Isaac TeSlaa

Detroit Lions rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa played a season-high 46% of his team's offensive snaps in Week 6 against the Kansas City Chiefs. However, the 23-year-old failed to earn a target, marking the third time in his last four games that TeSlaa has not recorded a reception. TeSlaa has flashed a high upside at certain points this season, as two of his three catches have gone for touchdowns. Still, he's impossible for fantasy managers to trust as a starter, even heading into a favorable Week 7 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay currently ranks 23rd in the NFL in passing yards allowed (1,520), and Lions quarterback Jared Goff attempted 55 passes in his last matchup against the Buccaneers in Week 2 of the 2024 season. TeSlaa could avoid being blanked for a second straight game should the Lions be forced into a pass-heavy game script in Week 7, but he should remain out of the starting lineups of fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Jake Bates Oct 18 10:10pm CT
Jake Bates

Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates has benefited from his team's high-powered offense through the first six weeks of the season, as Bates has both attempted and made the most extra-point tries (24) in the NFL. The 26-year-old has also knocked in seven of nine field goal attempts. The Lions will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7 in what looks on paper like a high-scoring affair. The two teams are currently averaging a combined 59.3 points per contest. Bates will also have the advantage in Week 7 of kicking at home inside the domed Ford Field, so weather will not play a factor in the kicking game. Bates profiles as a must-start kicker in Week 7 against Tampa Bay.

From RotoBaller

Sam LaPorta Oct 18 10:00pm CT
Sam LaPorta

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta has surged over the past two weeks, recording 10 catches for 147 yards and two touchdowns on 12 targets after hauling in 16 catches for 177 yards and zero touchdowns on 21 targets in his first four games played. LaPorta and the Lions will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7 in a game that looks like it could turn into a shootout. Tampa Bay currently ranks 23rd in the NFL in passing yards allowed (1,520). Detroit will be without both starting safeties and its top two corners, so the offense could be under immense pressure to keep putting points on the board. LaPorta profiles as a must-start fantasy tight end in Week 7 against the Buccaneers.

From RotoBaller

Amon-Ra St. Brown Oct 18 9:50pm CT
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has been a consistent producer so far this season, hauling in 44 catches for 452 yards and six touchdowns on 51 targets through six games. The 25-year-old has recorded at least seven targets and seven catches in five straight contests. St. Brown could be set up for another high-volume day in Week 7, as the Lions will take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a game that profiles as a shootout. The Bucs currently rank 23rd in the NFL in passing yards allowed (1,520) and have allowed the fourth-most receptions of 40-plus yards (four). The last time these two teams squared off in Week 2 of the 2024 season, St. Brown earned a whopping 18 targets, hauling in 11 catches for 119 yards. He profiles as a must-start fantasy wide receiver in Week 7 against Tampa Bay.

From RotoBaller

Jameson Williams Oct 18 9:50pm CT
Jameson Williams

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams had his best game of the season in Week 6 against the Kansas City Chiefs, hauling in six catches for 66 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. Williams could be well-positioned to build on his breakout Week 6 game in Week 7 when the Lions take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay currently ranks 23rd in the NFL in passing yards allowed (1,520) and has allowed the fourth-most receptions of 40-plus yards (four). In the most recent meeting between these two teams in Week 2 of the 2024 season, Williams was targeted a career-high 11 times and recorded five catches for 79 yards. He profiles as a high-upside WR3/flex option for fantasy managers in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

David Montgomery Oct 18 9:40pm CT
David Montgomery

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery earned just four carries and two receptions in the team's Week 6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the second time in his last three games that Montgomery has logged single-digit touches. The Lions are reportedly making it a focus to get the ball into Montgomery's hands more often heading into their Week 7 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, Tampa Bay is currently allowing the fifth-fewest yards per carry (3.7) in the NFL so far this season, so it could be tough sledding on Monday night for Montgomery. When these two teams faced off in Week 2 of the 2024 season, Montgomery logged just 35 rushing yards on 11 carries, although he did haul in four catches for 35 yards. Montgomery is still a decent bet to find the end zone even if he struggles from a yardage perspective, which makes him a high-end flex option for fantasy managers in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Jahmyr Gibbs Oct 18 9:30pm CT
Jahmyr Gibbs

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has been a featured piece in his team's offense all season long, recording 502 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns on 110 total touches. However, Gibbs has seen his role in the passing game decrease in recent games. After earning 19 targets across the first three weeks of the season, he's seen just six over the last three. If Gibbs is not featured as a receiver in Week 7, he may have a difficult time producing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay currently ranks fifth in the NFL in yards per carry allowed. If there's a bright spot for Gibbs, it's that he logged seven receptions in Detroit's Week 2 matchup against Tampa Bay last season. The 23-year-old still profiles as a must-start fantasy running back in Week 7, even in a less-than-ideal matchup against the Buccaneers.

From RotoBaller

Josh Jacobs Oct 18 9:20pm CT
Josh Jacobs

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs is considered "a true game-time decision" for the week 7 meeting with the Arizona Cardinals. He's still listed as questionable. However, Schefter added that the team won't know if the veteran can suit up until Sunday. Jacobs has played well throughout the 2025 campaign, amassing 359 yards and six touchdowns off 98 carries while catching 15 passes for 176 yards. Without question, his absence would be a tough blow for fantasy managers. If that's the case, Emanuel Wilson will be in line for more work and should draw streaming interest for the favorable matchup versus Arizona.

From RotoBaller

Jared Goff Oct 18 9:20pm CT
Jared Goff

Through six weeks, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff leads the NFL in both completion percentage (75.9%) and touchdown passes (14). The Lions were held to just 17 points by the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6, but the team is still averaging 31.8 points per contest. Detroit will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7 in a matchup that looks on paper like it should be a shootout. The Bucs currently rank 23rd in the NFL in passing yards allowed (1,520) and have allowed the fourth-most receptions of 40-plus yards (four). The Lions will go into the game without both starting safeties and their two top cornerbacks, so the pressure could be on Goff and the offense to keep the pedal to the metal from start to finish. Goff profiles as a solid fantasy starter in single-quarterback formats in Week 7 against Tampa Bay.

From RotoBaller